2018 Nissan Maxima Reliability
The 2018 Nissan Maxima has 36 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and service brakes. Compared with nearby Maxima model years (2016–2020), it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Maxima's typical year, while the 2016 drew 142 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
36
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
1
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2018 Nissan Maxima complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 model year, filed between 2018 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 8 | 22% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 22% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 14% |
| Visibility / wipers | 2 | 6% |
| Body structure | 2 | 6% |
| Stability control | 2 | 6% |
| Speed control / throttle | 2 | 6% |
2018 Nissan Maxima recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2018 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V654000 | Sep 12, 2019 | Backup camera / back-over prevention — sensing system / camera | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti… |
| 19V807000 | Nov 8, 2019 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2018 compares with nearby Maxima years
Verdicts compare these Maxima model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 142 | 8 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2017 | 106 | 4 | Unknown or other | Avoid |
| 2018 (this page) | 36 | 2 | Unknown or other | Better year |
| 2019 | 18 | 1 | Unknown or other | Solid |
| 2020 | 22 | 1 | Service brakes | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2018 Nissan Maxima
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Driver aids: ask about false automatic-braking events and check for warning messages on the dash.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2018 Nissan Maxima can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2018 Nissan Maxima reliability FAQ
Is the 2018 Nissan Maxima reliable?
The 2018 Nissan Maxima has 36 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and service brakes. Compared with nearby Maxima model years (2016–2020), it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Maxima's typical year, while the 2016 drew 142 complaints.
What are the most common 2018 Nissan Maxima problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Nissan Maxima are unknown or other (8), service brakes (8), forward collision avoidance (6), electrical system (5). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2018 Nissan Maxima have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Nissan Maxima, including 19V654000 (backup camera / back-over prevention — sensing system / camera) and 19V807000 (service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2018 Nissan Maxima compare with the 2017 and 2019 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2017 has 106 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid); the 2019 has 18 complaints and 1 recall (solid). The 2018 has 36 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2018 Nissan Maxima?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Maxima research
Other Nissan Maxima model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2018 Maxima, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.